GCXV2J Traditional Cache Top of the World
Type: Traditional | Size: Small Small | Difficulty: 2 out of 5 | Terrain: 5 out of 5
By: Ivy Dog Parents @ | Hide Date: 08/19/2006 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N39° 16.870 W106° 11.155 | Last updated: 08/30/2019 | Fav points: 9
 Cache photos

Sydne with the Cache.jpg

This Cache is for 4WD People ONLY or Hikers

PLEASE do not attempt it if you DO NOT have a 4WD vehicle OR Two Strong Legs

This is a 4WD pass ONLY. There are parts that need good ground clearance and quite a lot of ascent/decent will be fairly steep. You won't be traveling fast - 3 to 8 miles per hour once you head up the pass, and you'll spend a lot of time in low gears.

The Mosquito Pass "Trail" is the highest motorized pass in North America at 13,186'

Back in the 1870's when Leadville was booming, the shortest way to get there was to cross over Mosquito Pass from Fairplay. The Pass is 2 way, so you could start at Fairplay or Leadville. There is a sign that marks the entrance to 'Mosquito Gulch' - turn left here (Colorado Highway 12). Its a well graded dirt/gravel road for the first few miles. The name 'Mosquito' comes from the city that used to between Park City and the London Mine (the first set of ruins you'll see along the way). It seems that no one could decide on a name for that city, but during a meeting someone noticed a mosquito squashed between the pages of one of the city record books.

This inspired the people to name it after the mosquito (no one knew how to spell it, so they took their best guess and named it Musquito). Nothing is left of the town of Musquito.

John Lewis Dyer, "Father Dyer" 1812-1901

Known as early Colorado's itinerant preacher, Father Dyer traversed the Continental Divide in the central Colorado mountains to carry mail and to preach to Colorado's mining camps such as Buckskin Joe, Oro City, Como and Fairplay. Father Dyer was also the first Chaplain of the State Senate of Colorado.

Once you reach the top and look around the valley - you really feel that you are on Top of the World.

The Cache container if under a rock or two. (NO trees this high up) Very few muggles. But sure to allow enough time to do the pass in Daylight

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 Hints

8 feet at 10 degrees from Father Dyers' headstone

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Driving Directions

 Logs

13 Logs: Found it 11  Didn't find it 2  

Found it 09/26/2018 By GrandmaDizzy
woohoo a DNF redemption! signed the log, and left a little ice cream eraser and a ring. TFTC

Found it 08/12/2018 By Melrose14

Found it 07/27/2018 By wolfbuzz
Found this on accident. What a view! Plus, a fox dropped by.

Found it 06/16/2018 By FlyingBug
Found while "running" the Heavy Half Marathon. Started in town and made it to the top on my own two feet. Definitely earned the 5 star terrain rating on that one.
I'm in the background of the Lance Armstrong WeDu video so I grabbed a few screen shots.

Didn't find it 07/10/2017 By spf150
Starting raining hard and sleeting, didn't stick around long due to fear of lightning

Found it 09/13/2016 By billkat
Hiked up from the Leadville side today. The road was really bad and we didn't want to damage our Cherokee. So... I hiked Great views at the top and I grabbed a couple others while there. TFTC!

Photo

Found it 09/07/2016 By 9-rushman&farmgirl79
WOO HOO!! Top of the World. Wow it is really windy up here today. Quick easy find. The road down to Leadville is sure alot easier than the road from Fairplay. Stamped the log and we're heading for home. [8d][8d] SL TFTC

Found it 08/28/2016 By WolfgangStiller
Dianne and I came up here to do a nearby 13er but got stormed off so we had time to do some geocaches. Cache is in good shape. TFTC!

Didn't find it 08/17/2016 By GrandmaDizzy
It was too cold, and honestly, I don't know what you mean by 10 degrees. The wind whipped up on us and even snowed a bit, so we didn't stay long. But I will go again. That trail is an awesome jeep ride. We had fun!

Found it 08/14/2016 By fifteentango
4 wheeling with my friends from Germany.

Found it 07/29/2016 By DEGO77
Found this cache last year. Beautiful. TFTC

Found it 10/03/2015 By lberts91
Hint is good. Just a signature card.

Found it 08/01/2015 By WoodFamilyDTSAZE
Nice